'Baby Mama' beats out 'Harold & Kumar' for top spot, April 25-27, 2008

Two SNL Weekend Update anchors shut down Harold & Kumar 2.0, headlining a fairly strong weekend leading into the first Summer jaunt of the year. Thanks to Universal's Baby Mama and New Line's Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, the top ten films finished a remarkable 34% from last year's comparable frame.

Leading the charge was Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's Baby Mama, which took in an estimated $18.3 million in its opening weekend. Budgeted at $30 million, the Universal comedy averaged a strong $7,184 in 2,543 theaters. The film is the first starring role of Fey's quickly budding career, who also wrote and acted in 2004's Mean Girls. That film opened to $24.4 million on its way to $86 million domestically. Reviews were mildly favorable.

Finishing in second was the New Line sequel Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, which took in an estimated $14.5 million this weekend. The debut was a huge improvement over 2004's theatrical release of Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, which debuted with just $5.5 million on its way to $18.2 million total. That film gained a huge cult following on DVD which prompted this $12 million sequel, one of the last major releases for the studio soon to be eaten up by Warner Bros.

Last week's champ The Forbidden Kingdom fel 47% to an estimated $11.2 million, bringing the Lionsgate release's total to $38.3 million. Budgeted at a hefty $55 million (co-financed with the Weinstein Company), the film will likely rely on the overseas market for profitability. Look for the Jackie Chan-Jet Li actioner to finish with $55 million domestically.

Right behind it in fourth was Universal's comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which slipped just 38% to $11 million, bringing its ten-day take to $35.1 million. Budgeted at a modest $30 million, the film should also finish in the $55-60 million range.

Fox's family film Nim's Island fell a top ten best 20% to $4.5 million, bringing its four week cume to $39 million. Budgeted at $37 million, the Jodie Foster starrer should finish with $50 million domestically.

Rounding out the top ten was Fox's horribly-reviewed suspense thriller Deception, which took in just $2.1 million in its debut, averaging a measley $1,111 in 2,001 theaters. Starring Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor and Michelle Williams, the film shouldn't stay in theaters for too long.

Thanks to two decent debuts, the top ten films grossed $76.2 million this weekend, up a commanding 34% from last year's comparable frame, when Disturbia led a stale box office in its third weekend with $9 million. It was down 11% from 2006 when RV debuted with $16.4 million.

The numbers, April 25-27, 2008

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	Baby Mama	$18,271,000	2,543	$7,185	$18,270,000	--	1	Universal
2	Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay	$14,570,000	2,510	$5,805	$14,570,000	--	1	New Line
3	The Forbidden Kingdom	$11,230,000	3,151	$3,564	$38,260,000	-47.5	2	Lionsgate
4	Forgetting Sarah Marshall	$11,014,000	2,799	$3,935	$35,100,000	-37.9	2	Universal
5	Nim's Island	$4,525,000	2,977	$1,520	$38,954,000	-20.4	4	Fox
6	Prom Night	$4,400,000	2,821	$1,560	$38,115,000	-49.3	3	Sony
7	21	$4,000,000	2,952	$1,355	$75,775,000	-27.5	5	Sony
8	88 Minutes	$3,600,000	2,168	$1,661	$12,632,000	-48.3	2	Sony
9	Horton Hears A Who	$2,410,000	2,159	$1,116	$147,883,000	-31.4	7	Fox
10	Deception	$2,225,000	2,001	$1,112	$2,225,000	--	1	Fox

'Forbidden Kingdom' roundhouses its way to $21m, April 18-20, 2008

Appearing together for the first time in their long and storied careers, martial arts legends Jet Li and Jackie Chan fought off the competition with their debut of The Forbidden Kingdom, finishing in the top spot with an estimated $20.9 million. The debut was Jet Li's biggest opening since 1998's Lethal Weapon 4. It was also the best opening ever for a Jackie Chan film outside of the Rush Hour franchise. Averaging a top ten best $6,623 in 3,151 theaters, the PG-13 Lionsgate release attracted a largely young male audience. Reviews were mildly positive (62% on Rottentomatoes.com).

Debuting in second was Universal's well-reviewed R-rated comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which opened with an estimated $17.4 million in second. Budgeted at a modest $30 million, the Judd Apatow produced flick averaged a solid $6,201 in 2,798 theaters. Though the debut was stronger than this spring's Drillbit Taylor ($10.3m), it fell well short of other Apatow hits Superbad ($33.1m), Knocked Up ($30.7m) and The 40-Year-Old Virgin ($21.4m).

Falling 56% to third was last week's champ Prom Night, which took in $9.1 million. In ten days the $20 million budgeted horror remake has grossed $32.5 million.

Al Pacino's horrifically-reviewed 88 Minutes debuted with just $6.8 million this weekend, averaging $3,136 in 2,168 theaters. The Sony thriller received a painful 6% recommendation rating on rottentomatoes.com, making it one of the most poorly reviewed films of 2008.

Opening in 1,052 theaters was Ben Stein's creationist "documentary" Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, which took in a frightening $3.2 million this weekend. Released by Rocky Mountain Pictures, the film averaged $2,997 per theater.

Thanks to a better than expected opening from Forbidden Kingdom, the top ten films grossed an estimated $78.9 million, up 15% from last year's comparable frame when Disturbia held onto the top spot with $13 million. However, it was down 17% from 2006 when Silent Hill opened at No. 1 with $20.2 million.

The numbers, April 18-20, 2008

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	The Forbidden Kingdom	$20,870,000	3,151	$6,623	$20,870,000	--	1	Lionsgate
2	Forgetting Sarah Marshall	$17,350,000	2,798	$6,201	$17,350,000	--	1	Universal
3	Prom Night	$9,100,000	2,700	$3,370	$32,564,000	-56.3	2	Sony
4	88 Minutes	$6,800,000	2,168	$3,137	$6,800,000	--	1	Sony
5	Nim's Island	$5,650,000	3,277	$1,724	$32,857,000	-38.0	3	Fox
6	21	$5,500,000	2,903	$1,895	$69,984,000	-47.5	4	Sony
7	Street Kings	$4,000,000	2,469	$1,620	$19,879,000	-67.9	2	Fox Searchlight
8	Horton Hears A Who	$3,500,000	2,670	$1,311	$144,407,000	-40.9	6	Fox
9	Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed	$3,153,000	1,052	$2,997	$3,153,000	--	1	Rocky Mountain
10	Leatherheads	$3,020,000	2,798	$1,079	$26,576,000	-51.9	3	Universal

'Prom Night' scares up $22.7m for No. 1, April 11-13, 2008

Prom Night and Street Kings headlined yet another underwhelming weekend as the top ten films finished below last year's comparable frame for the eighth time in nine weeks, adding more pressure for studios pinning their hopes on a big summer rescue.

Taking the crown this weekend was Sony Screen Gem's Prom Night, which took in a surprisingly strong $22.7 million, nearly doubling its closest competitor. A remake of the 1980 Jamie Lee Curtis horror flick, the PG-13 release averaged a top ten best $8,407 in 2,700 theaters. The debut was below another Jamie Lee Curtis horror remake Halloween, which debuted with $26.4 million in 2007. It finished on par with 2005's The Amityville Horror, which took in $23.5 million in 2005. Budgeted at a modest $20 million the film should be a very profitable one for Sony.

Keanu Reeves' thriller Street Kings limped into second with just $12 million, averaged $4,864 in 2,467 theaters. Starring Reeves and Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, the R-rated actioner was poorly reviewed by critics. Look for the Fox Searchlight release to have a very quick stint in the top ten.

Two-week champ 21 fell just 28% to third with an estimated $11 million, bringing its 17 day take to an impressive $62.3 million. At its current pace look for the $35 million budgeted Sony release to finish with a formidable $90 million domestically.

Fox's family film Nim's Island slipped just 32% to fourth, bringing its ten-day take to $25.3 million. George Clooney's Leatherheads witnessed a much bumpier sophomore frame, falling 51% to an estimated $6.2 million, bringing its ten-day total to $21.9 million. Look for the $58 million budgeted period football comedy to finish with less than $40 million domestically.

2008's highest grossing film Horton Hears a Who slipped just 34% to an estimated $6 million, bringing its five week cume to $139.6 million. Look for the $85 million budgeted release to finish with $155-160 million domestically.

Miramax's Sarah Jessica Parker-Dennis Quaid dramedy Smart People took in an estimated $4.2 million in 1,106 theaters, averaging a weak $3,797 per theater. Reviews were mixed-to-poor for the R-rated pic.

Despite Prom Night's larger than expected debut, the top ten films grossed an estimated $79.5 million, down 13% from last year's comparable frame when Disturbia opened with $22.2 million. It was down an even heftier 26% from 2006 when Scary Movie 4 topped with $40.2 million.

The numbers, April 11-13, 2008

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	Prom Night	$22,700,000	2,700	$8,407	$22,700,000	--	1	Sony
2	Street Kings	$12,000,000	2,467	$4,864	$12,000,000	--	1	Fox Searchlight
3	21	$11,000,000	2,736	$4,020	$62,268,000	-28.3	3	Sony
4	Nim's Island	$9,000,000	3,518	$2,558	$25,280,000	-31.9	2	Fox
5	Leatherheads	$6,210,000	2,771	$2,241	$21,910,000	-51.0	2	Universal
6	Horton Hears A Who	$6,000,000	3,209	$1,870	$139,628,000	-34.2	5	Fox
7	Smart People	$4,200,000	1,106	$3,797	$4,200,000	--	1	Miramax
8	The Ruins	$3,250,000	2,814	$1,155	$13,413,000	-59.4	2	Paramount
9	Superhero Movie	$3,114,000	2,526	$1,233	$21,202,000	-42.5	3	MGM
10	Drillbit Taylor	$2,070,000	2,205	$939	$28,461,000	-39.2	4	Paramount

'21' wins second straight hand with $15.1m, April 4-6, 2008

Three new wide releases failed to dethrone two-week champ 21 as the box office continued its disturbingly poor showing at the start of the month leading into the lucrative summer season. George Clooney's poorly-received Leatherheads debuted in second with a disappointing $13.5 million, followed by the Jodie Foster family-comedy Nim's Island with $13.3 million, and the horror entry The Ruins with $7.8 million. With no high-flying pre-summer hits to prop up a sluggish 2008 (last year had Blades of Glory while 2006 saw the release of Ice Age: The Meltdown), the top ten films fell a disturbing 27% from last year's comparable frame.

Sony's $35 million budgeted blackjack drama 21 ran the table for the second straight weekend with an estimated $15.1 million, falling just 37% from its debut a week ago. In ten days the Kevin Spacey starrer has grossed an impressive $46.5 million, and the film looks on pace to finish with $80 million domestically.

Universal spent a rather pricey $58 million bringing George Clooney and Renee Zellweger together in their period football comedy Leatherheads, and after this weekend they're probably regretting that decision. Poorly timed, poorly marketed and poorly reviewed (just a 54% recommendation rating from critics polled by Rottentomatoes.com), the film debuted with just $13.5 million, averaging $4,870 in 2,769 theaters. Universal reported that three out of every four ticket buyers for Leatherheads was over 30, a remarkably high number that doesn't bode well for the film's long-term future. Look for the film to finish well short of its production budget domestically.

Fox's PG-rated family adventure Nim's Island opened in third with an even more disappointing $13.3 million, averaging just $3,786 in an ultrawide 3,513 theaters. Budgeted at $37 million, the Jodie Foster-Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) starrer trended largely toward the female demographic. Reviews were mostly poor.

The year's biggest release so far, Fox/Blue Sky Studio's Horton Hears a Who, fell 49% to an estimated $9.1 million bringing its four week cume to $131.1 million. After debuting close to 2002's Ice Age the $85m budgeted animated pic is now running 7% behind that film's comparable four-week total. Ice Age took in $176.3 million total by the end of its domestic run. Look for Horton to finish with $160 million domestically. DreamWorks' horror pic The Ruins debuted in fifth, averaging a weak $2,788 in 2,812 theaters. Distributed by Paramount, the R-rated release most likely won't make it very far into summer.

Rounding out the top ten was the current global box office leader 10,000 BC, which finished the weekend with an estimated $2.8 million. In five weeks of release the $105 million budgeted prehistoric actioner has amassed $89.3 million domestically, and an incredible $153.4 million overseas, bringing its worldwide total to $243 million.

In limited release, Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stone concert/doc Shine a Light took in $1.5 million in 276 theaters, averaging a decent $5,475 per theater. The Paramount Classics film played in over 90 IMAX theaters.

The numbers, April 4-6, 2008

THE TOP TEN		Weekend	Theaters	Avg.	Total Gross	%+-	Wks	Distributor
1	21	$15,100,000	2,653	$5,692	$46,533,000	-37.4	2	Sony
2	Leatherheads	$13,485,000	2,769	$4,870	$13,485,000	--	1	Universal
3	Nim's Island	$13,300,000	3,513	$3,786	$13,300,000	--	1	Fox
4	Horton Hears A Who	$9,100,000	3,571	$2,548	$131,061,000	-48.7	4	Fox
5	The Ruins	$7,840,000	2,812	$2,788	$7,840,000	--	1	Paramount
6	Superhero Movie	$5,410,000	2,965	$1,825	$16,892,000	-43.1	2	MGM
7	Meet the Browns	$3,510,000	1,554	$2,259	$37,754,000	-53.1	3	Lionsgate
7	Drillbit Taylor	$3,495,000	2,707	$1,291	$25,579,000	-38.8	3	Paramount
9	Shutter	$2,875,000	2,125	$1,353	$23,183,000	-44.9	3	Fox
10	10,000 B.C.	$2,770,000	2,335	$1,186	$89,323,000	-44.0	5	Warner Bros.